Apparatus -for mixing paint



M. n. MCCAULEY APPARATUS FOR MIXING PAINTS july lg, i949.

Filed Nov. 18, 1946 4 Shets-Sheet 1 @Train/EVS .My i9, @49 M. D. MqcAuLEY 2,475,574

V APPARATUS FOR MIXING PAINTS Filed, Nov. 1s, 194e -4 sheets-sheet 2 INVEN TOR. Myron 2 /Vfau/y ATTORNEYS Juy i9, 1949. M. D. MCCAULEY APPARATUS FOR MIXING PAINTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 18, 1946 INVENTOR. lMyra/7 0. /WCau/ey BY m'wm uw@ FIS; E1. l

ATTO/QNE YS July E9, 1949. M.- D. MccAULEY APPARATUS FOR MIXING PAINTS Filed NOV. 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l: I E; l l

ATTORNEYS Patented July 19, v1949 UNITED S TAT-ES ATENT z01"'Pfl-Cl?.

APPARATUS FOR MIXING PAINT Myron D. McCauley, Huntington Woods, Mich., .assignor to Rinshed-Mason Com-pany, Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 18, 1946, Serial No. v'710,508

6 Claims.

invention .relatestoan apparatus ier mixing two :or more L-liqu-ids to Aobtain ydesired results in the mixture `and it has `to do particularly with the mixing of such materials as paints, lacquers, varnish, shellac, or -other preparations, such as an oil.

More particularly, lthe invention is directed to the provision of an apparatus for mixing a plurality of paint-s lor the like together to obtain certain colors or shades. For convenience and brevity, the disclosure will be made with reference to paint, this term 'being used in a broad sense to cover theyarious ingredients. With the use Vof the .apparatus ajob :shop may carry a limited number ojgbase colors and v`by mixing these colors in Yprescribed quantities, various colors and shades may be obtained. a Ajob shop is equipped .to repair )or renish-automobiles or parts thereof having a 'wide variety of col-ors and shades, by having in stockV only a few of the base colors.

The general object of the .invention is the provision of an improvedmenhanism by means of whichspecifled quantities of paints may be placed in a Vvessel to lobtain the desired vcolor. To this end, an improved mechanism is provided. It is also an `object of the invention to provide van improved gauging devica'by means of which the level of the liquid :the `container may be accurately ascertained: The gauge resides basically in the illumination ALof .the surface of the paint which is being poured or otherwise placed into vthe vessel and visually ascertaining the'level. This is accomplished by an arrangement `which Vcombines an arrangement for illuminating the surface ci the liquid with means for directing the Areilected light from the surface of the liquid to a location where the operator may easily see the same. To this end, a periscope `arrangenient is provided.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which is quickly and easily operable to adjusted positions and to this end, power driving means is preferably provided for shifting the position of the liquid level gauge. vIn conjunction with this, a manually operable adjusting 'means is provided for obtaining an accurate setting'following a general setting Vof the gauge by the power means.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description is followed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View of adevice constructed in accordance with thev invention showing the same in partial side elevation 'and with parts cut away and with parts'insection'.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken (Cl. Slt-12.6.7)

substantially on .line 2-2 of Fig. 1 "illustrating an operable element.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l showing 'a counter varrangement.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the apparatus showing some ci the 4concealed parts-in Adotted lines.

Fig. 5 is zin-enlarged crossV sectional `view taken substantially on line 5 5 o'f Rig. 4 showing the manual control for setting 'the indicator.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the gauging elementshowing the wiring-andthe electric lamps.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line .1 -l of Fig. 6 showing some of the structure in the head :of the gauging element.

Fig. 8 is a ycross sectional View taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 showing `the `tube structure of the gauging element.

Fig. 9 is a .diagrammatic view illustrating the eld visible by an operator,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged-cross sectional view taken substantially on line tlil--lll'of l showing the operating structure.

Fig. 11 is-an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line l l--Il `of Eig. .10 showing the structure of the post and operating guide.

Figure 12 is a view illustrating the electrica wiring diagram.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and `2, the apparatus comprises la base in the form of ahousing l having a lower closure plate 2.. The vhousing has a supporting portion 3 and an extending portion 4. Secured to the housing at its mid-point is a post or standard 6.

The supporting surface 8 is-designed to receive a vessel such as a paint can and for positioning the can there is preferably provided an arcuate abutment 8 against which the can may be placed. A gravity switch, advantageously of the mercury bulb type, illustrated at 9, is plvotally mounted as at I0 and it has a trigger or nger I arranged to be engaged by a can to swing the bulb 9 into an angular position for making an electrical circuit for purposes which will presently appear.

Mounted in the post 6 is a screw I5 which seats upon the lower portion cf the post and takes a bearing in a bracket I6. The upper end of the post (Figs. 10 and 11) is provided with a head H. This head is cut away to receive, slidably, a split tube I8 which is engaged by spaced bearing portions 19 in the head. The head is cut away for the reception of a supporting piece V2l! having a partially circular part 2i fitting within the split tube and which is secured to the head of the post as by means of a screw 22. The portion 2| of the element 20 has a central opening therein, in which the upper end of the screw |5 is journalled as at 23. Secured to the lower end of the split tube is a nut which is threaded onto the screw I5.

The screw is an operating element for raising and lowering the split tube I8 and for this purpose the structure shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a bevelled gear 26 secured to the bottom of the screw. A driving shaft 21 journalled in the bracket |6 has a bevel gear 28, the teeth of which mesh with those of the gear 26. The shaft 21 is preferably power driven and for this purpose it is journalled in spaced brackets 3Q and 3| and provided with a worm gear 32. A small reversible electric motor has a shaft 36 provided With a Worm 31 for operating the gear 32 as illustrated in Fig. 5. (It will be seen that operation of the motor will eiect rotation of the screw l5 through the mechanism just described.

A hand set arrangement, as illustrated in Fig. 5, takes the form of a clutch member 49 secured to the motor shaft and a clutch member 4| mounted on a shaft 42 which extends out through the housing and is provided with a hand operated turning instrument such as a knoblike device 43. A spring 44 Whichacts upon `an abutment 45 and reacts against a bracket 46 normally holds the clutch member Y4| retracted away from the clutch member 49 but pressure on the piece 43 may shift the shaft 42 and the clutch member 4| to the rightas Fig. 5 is viewed, to cause enn gagement with the clutch member 4G so that if the hand piece 43 is turned, the worm 31 is operated to thus turn the screw |5.

An indicator system in the form of several counter mechanisms, is disposed in the extension 4. As shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 21 is extended and is journalled ina bracket 50 and mounted above the same are a plurality of indicators A, B, C and D, each driven by gears on the extension of the shaft 21 as shown at 5|, 52, 53 and 54. These counters are arranged for diiferent sizes of receptacles 1 and, as indicated in Fig. ll, the counters are respectively for containers of pint, quart, one-half gallon and gallon capacity, there being preferably suitable indicia on the housing 4 to indicate the same as shown. The top of the housing extension 4 is provided with a slot-56 for exposing the numerals on the counters and mounted just under the slot is a shield 51 pivotally journalled on the axis of the counters as shown at 58 (Figs. Zand 3). This shield is arcuate in formation and is provided with a number of apertures 59 so that rotary adjustment of the shield exposes the elected counter. To shift the shield the same is provided with a thumb piece 60 which is engageable through an opening 6| in the housing. A detent arrangement in the form of an arm 62 having a spring-pressed ball is associated with the operating -n'ger piece 66 and the spring-pressed ball is engageable in recesses 63 in the bracket 56. As shown in Fig. 4, the several openings 59 are circumferentially oiset, there being one for each counter and adjustment ofthe finger piece 66 aligns an opening 59 with an elected counter to expose the same while concealing the other counters.A

Mounted on top of the split sleeve I8 is a head 18 for carrying the gauging element generally indicated at 1|.' A plate of insulating material 12 supports depending rods 13 which extend into 4 tubes 14. Each tube has its lower end extending through the surface member 4 of the housing and insulated therefrom by insulation 15 and has its upper end disposed in the plate |1 and insu-` lated therefrom by a bushing 18. For holding each tube in place, each tube has a washer 15 adjacent its lower end and a washer 11 adjacent its upper end, these washers being secured to the tube and lying between the bushings 15 and 18. The rods 13 thus engage the tubes to provide an electrical connection and the rods are slidable in the tubes. To maintain a good contact the distance between the locations of connections of the rods to the plate 12 is alittle different, such, for example, a little greater than the distance between the locations of mounting of the tubes 14 so that the rods are slightly flexed to thus maintain a wiping contact with the interior of the tubes.

The head 16 overhangs the location of reception of the vessel 1 and supports a depending gauging element. This element is `in the form of a flattened exterior tube 12, the upper end of which is tted in the head as shown in Fig. 6 and within this exterior tube are three other tubes 13, 14 and 15. The exterior tube and the interior tube 14 may be held to the head by means of a screw 16 while the tubes 13 and 15 may be held positioned by screws 11.

The lower end of each of the tubes 13 and 15 is equipped with a socket for the reception of an electric bulb 8|. These bulbs are positioned somewhat above the lower end of the exterior tube 12. The interior tube 14 projects downwardly beyond the lower ends of the tubes 13 and 15 and the interior tube is fastened so that its shape gradually changes to an elongated or oval form so that its lower end 83 is of somewhat oval shape as shown in Fig. 8. The lower end of the tube 14 projects beyond the lower end of the exterior tube 10 and positioned on opposite sides thereof are lenses or prisms 85. These lenses or prisms are relatively permanently positioned to seal the lower end of the tube 12 and the lower end of the tube 14 is closed by means of a transparent piece 86. The prisms and the piece 86 are preferably of glass so as to not be deleteriously aifected by the paint or lacquer with which the same are to be used. Where liquids are to be gauged which do not attack plastic, transparent plastic elements may be employed.

The tube 14 is, in effect, a periscope tube and mirrors or reflecting elements are used in the head 10. One mirror is shown at 81 and another at 88. A sight line down the center of the tube is illustrated at 89 while the eye of an observer is diagrammatically illustrated at 90.

The electrical diagram illustrated in Fig. 12 shows a switch box 9| mounted inside the housing with an operating lever 92 projecting through the housing. Conductors form a source of electrical current, such as the usual A. C. are shown at 93 and 94. One conductor leads to the switch 9|, another extends to a terminal for the reversible electric motor 35. Also connecting the switch and the motor are three other electrical conductors 95, 96, and 91. The electrical set up is not shown in detail as this arrangement is known to those skilled in the art. Suffice it to say, that the switch arm 92 is operable to one dotted line position for the operation of the motor 35 in one direction, and to the other dotted line position, shown in Fig. 12, for the operation of the motor in the opposite direction, while it is in its full line position, as shownin Fig. l2, no 'current is supplied to the motor.

Conductors |110 and lol extend from the power lines 93 and 94 to atransformer |02 located in the housing. Extending from the transformer are two Vconductors |83 and IM for Acarrying a reduced voltage such, for example, as six or eight volts. One conductor extends directly to and is connected to one of the tubes 'M (Fig. l0), while the other conductor |33 runs through the mercury switch 9 and then connects to the other conductor tube 74. In the head 'l0 are conductors ll and |91 for carrying current to one bulb 3| and conductors .|08 and |08 for carrying current to the other electric bulb 8|'. These conductors extend downwardly through the tubes 73 and M and conveniently being in the form of a double conductor wire as shown in Fig. 6, the double conductor wires being illustrated at lll! and In the operation of the device, a can of selected size, such as a quart, is placed upon the platform as indicated in Fig. 1. This is done when the gauge is in an elevated position. The gauge is new lowered until its lower end rests upon the bottom of the can at which time the indicators all read zero. The shield 51 is adjusted to show the counter which corresponds to the selected containersuch as the quart, suggested above. A given quantity of thinner may be placed in the bottom of the can preliminarily and the arrangement is such that when the gauging element is properly adjusted with relation to the surface of the thinner, the counters read zero.

An advantageous and preferable arrangement is to so construct the counter as to divide the receptacle into 1000 parts, or, in other words, 999 indications on the counter. Let an arbitrary situation be assumed where a paint mix is to be provided which comprises 100 parts of white, 400 parts of blue, and 500 parts of yellow.V The driving motor is now operated to turn the screw and elevate the gauging element. The element is to be elevated until the counter indicates 100, this showing that the space below the counter equals o parte out of the total of 1000 in the container.

After the motor has driven the gauge upwardly it is stopped as near as a reading 0f 100 as possible, the final accurate adjustment may be made by the operator pressing the button 43 and turning the same to arrive at the accurate reading by the indicator. The operator gazes into `the periscope tube as indicated in Fig. 6, the rays of light from the lamps 8| pass through the prisms and are bent as generally indicated by the lines H5 and ||6 in Fig. 6 so that the rays cross each i other. This point of crossing is preferably substantially centrally disposed at a point below the transparent closureBS. The light shinesu-pon the surface of the paint as indicated and the light is reflected up through the tube 'M and it can be seen by the observer employing the reilecting mirrors. The pouring is continued while the operator Watches the reflected light through the periscope tube. The illuminated eld visible through the periscope will have an area and shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the lower end of the periscope tube as indicated by the area H1, Fig. 9. As the level of the paint rises, say from the level indicated at x, Fig. 6, there is substantially no change in the appearance through the periscope tube until the level of the paint rises above the point of intersection of the rays. When the level of the paint, for example, is about at the level y, there are no light rays played directly upon the surface which lies between the diverging beams Afrom the two lamps. Therefore, a Vdark streak ||8 will appear on the visible area as shown in Fig. 9. This is .an indication to the operator to be careful in the pouring of the paint as the level is approaching the level for which the gauge was set. As the surface of the paint rises, from the level y, the darkened streak H8 gradually widens and nnally, when the level of the paint reaches the lower end of the periscope tube the light is cut oi and none is transmitted upwardly through the periscope tube. This level of the paint is indicated at e in Fig. 1. At this precise point, the pouring of the paint in the can is stopped and parts of white .paint has been supplied. The motor is now operated until the counter shows 50c, thus indicating that it has been elevated 400 points and the blue paint is now poured into the can. When the level reaches the depending end of the periscope tube all light is cut oil.E and it is then known that 400 parts of blue have been added. The gauge is next elevated to provide the 500 parts of yellow and the steps are repeated.

The vessel is now full of a proper mixture of basic colors which, when properly mixed provides the desired color or shade. If a pint, one-half gallon, or gallon of paint is desired the appropriate counter is used. In the event, one of the light bulbs becomes defective in use, the outer tube l2 may be .releasd by its holding screw and slipped from the head 10. This exposes the bulb so that Ait may be replaced.

After the can has thus been lilled and removed, the gauge may be lowered by reverse operation by the electric motor. On the other hand, the gauge may not be lowered until the next use of the ap paratus at which time a can will be located on the platform so that the gauge may be lowered into the same. And, it is to be pointed out at this time, that, when not in use, the circuit through the lamps is broken by the mercury switch 9, inasmuch as the switch is closed only when a can is properly positioned on the platform.

It will be seen vfrom the above that the arrangement provides for a very accurate gauging of paint to be placed into a vessel. The operator receives a warning when the .level of the paint is approaching the level for which the gauge is set by the appearance of the dark streak across the visible area. From this point on the operator may be particularly careful in pouring the paint into the receptacle. When the level of the paint contacts with and shuts off light from entering the closure 86, the interior of the vessel remains i1- luminated. This `is because the light passes out through the prisms $5 which. in a normal and proper use, remain above the paint level. By initially pouring a small amount of thinner in a can this thinner o'at's upon the surface of the paint 'and prevents the pigment in the paint from discoloring the prisms and the closure piece BB. Thus, after paint has been poured into the vessel up to the desired indicated level the operator may, for any purpose whatever, inspect the interior of the can which remains illuminated.

I claim:

l. An apparatus for determining the level of the surface of a liquid in a vessel, comprising a gauging member, means for adjustably shifting the gauging member vertically so that the same may be projected downwardly into a vessel, means for indicating the verti-cal position thereof, a light source carried by the member for illuminating the surface thereof, an element for conducting upwardly light rays which are reflected from the surface of the liquid, lens means for directing rays from the light source diagonally across the lower end of the light conducting element, said lower end of the light conducting element adapted to be engaged by the liquid to cut off reflected light.

2. An apparatus for determining the level of the surface of a liquid in a vessel, comprising a tube projectable vertically into the vessel, a light source near the bottom of the tube for illuminating the surface of the liquid, an element within the tube for conducting upwardly light rays reflected from the surface of the liquid and which are visible to an operator, the lower end ci the element projecting downwardly below the light source, lens means for directing rays from the light source diagonally across the lower end of said element, the lower end of the element adapted to be engaged by the liquid to cut off reflected light and means for indicating the position of the lower end of the element relative to the vessel.

3. An apparatus for determining the level of the surface of a liquid in a vessel comprising, a support projectable downwardly into a vessel, a pair of light sources for illuminating the surface of the liquid, a light conducting element positioned between the light sources for conducting upwardly light reected by the liquid and which may be viewed by an operator, the lower end of the light projecting element extending below the light sources', lens means for directing the light beams from the sources so that the light beams diagonally cross at a point below the lower end of the light conducting element, whereby when the level of the liquid is above the point of the crossing of the light beams the same is indicated by a dark area in the visible iield, the lower end of the element adapted to be engaged by the liquid to out oif reflected light and means for indicating the position of the lower end of the light conducting element relative to the vessel.

4. A gauging element for determining the level of the surface of a liquid in a vessel comprising, an outer tube member, means for projecting the tubular member downwardly into a vessel and for indicating its vertical position relative to the vessel, a pair of spaced tubes positioned within the outer tube, an electric lamp carried by each of said spaced tubes in a lociation above the bottom of the outer tube, a light conducting tube within the outer tube and positioned between the electric lamps, the lower end of the lightV conducting tube projecting below the outer tube, said light conducting tube conducting upwardly light reflected from the surface of the liquid to be viewed by an operator, a lens for each electric lamp, said lenses arranged to direct the light rays from the lamps diagonally so that the light rays from the respective lamps cross each other at a point below the light conducting tube.

5. A gauging element for determining the level of the surface of a liquid in a vessel comprising, an outer tube member, means for projecting the tubular member downwardly into a vessel and for indicating its vertical position relative to the vessel, a pair of spaced tubes positioned within the outer tube, an electric lamp carried by each of said spaced tubes in a location above the bottom of the outer tube, a light conducting tube within the outer tube and positioned between the electric lamps, the lower end of the light conducting tube projecting below the outer tube, said light conducting tube conducting upwardly light reflected from the surface of the liquid to be viewed by an operator, a lens for each electric lamp, said lenses arranged to direct the light rays from the lamps diagonally so that the light rays from the respective lamps cross each other at a point below the light conducting tube, and a transparent closure piece for the lower end of the light conducting tube.

6. A gauging element for determining the level of the surface of a liquid in a vessel comprising, an outer tubular shell, means for projecting the tubular shell downwardly into a vessel and for indicating its vertical position relative to the vessel, said tubular shell being of relatively fiattened construction, three tubes within the outer tube, one of which is disposed between the other two, an electric lamp carried by each of the outer tubes above the bottom of the tubular shell, the central tube extending below the tubular shell, the lower end of the central tube being of attened construction, a lens on each side of the lower portion of the central tube for closing the lower end of the tubular shell, a transparent closure for the lower end of the central tube which is located below said lenses, said lenses being arranged to direct the light rays from the lamps diagonally downwardly so that the same cross each other below the lower end of the central tube, said central tube adapted to conduct up- Wardly light rays reected from the surface of the liquid and being adapted to be engaged by the liquid to cut off the light rays conducted thereby.

MYRON D. MCCAULEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,105,806 Longstreth 1 Aug. 4, 1914 2,169,952 Holmes Aug. 14, 1939 2,190,027 Jordan Feb. 13, 1940 2,237,443 Marienthal Apr. 8, 1941 

